Entry level jobs for the Social Welfare sector

Internal Job Title: Sanctuary Support Coordinator

Hours: 35 hours per week (full time). 

Location: Home-based focussed around Cardiff and Newport, with regular travel across Wales and occasional travel to England. 

Contract: Currently funded until December 2028. 

Salary: £36,191. 

About us 

Housing Justice unites diverse communities to build personal connections, help people out of homelessness, and create justice in the housing system. Our vision is of a community where everyone has a safe and stable home, and a feeling they belong. 

Our Seeking Sanctuary project is a Wales-based initiative delivering innovative housing solutions and community-led support for people seeking sanctuary. We combine community hosting, tenancy-based housing, and advocacy to help build a Nation of Sanctuary. 

About the role 

Reporting directly to the Sanctuary Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of our accommodation pathways, ensuring the best possible outcomes for destitute migrants and newly granted refugees. 

This is a dynamic, frontline casework role that spans three core areas of our housing provision: 

• The Hosting Project: Supporting people seeking sanctuary who have no recourse to public funds by giving them a welcoming, safe place to stay in the home of one of our volunteer hosts. 

• Refugee Lodgings: Helping to provide a safe and supported housing option for newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness by matching them with people who have a spare room. 

• Transitional Housing: Providing vital tenancy sustainment support for newly granted refugees transitioning into our shared accommodation properties. 

About you 

We are seeking a dedicated, highly organised, and empathetic professional with proven experience working directly with people experiencing homelessness, particularly asylum seekers and forced migrants. 

You will have a strong working knowledge of the housing system, the UK welfare system (including Universal Credit and Housing Benefit), and how to support people to access their entitlements. Because this role requires managing complex casework and navigating cultural nuances, you must possess strong interpersonal skills, particularly when working with vulnerable people or those with English as a second language. 

If you are a creative problem-solver who is passionate about empowering refugees and building sustainable housing pathways, we want to hear from you. 

Benefits 

• 29 days annual leave, 3 of which are fixed between Christmas and New Year. 

• This is in addition to bank holidays and pro-rata if part time. 

• After 3 years of service, you are entitled to one additional day of holiday for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 5 additional days, pro-rata if part time. 

• We offer flexible working. Not all posts can be made flexible, but where possible we operate core hours of 10am - 3pm, with employees able to flex their working day around these. 

• Any flexibility is at the discretion of the line manager and relevant senior manager. 

• As this role is offered as Home Working, we will provide some financial support to get you set up with appropriate equipment. 

• We offer an employee assistance programme through Spectrum Life, which can be used by you and your family for a range of advice and support. 

• We offer a cycle-to-work scheme. 

How to apply 

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please read the attached job description and fill out the application form, describing your capabilities for each of the numbered points in the person specification. 

Interviews will provisionally be held on Thursday 11 June

We are recruiting for a Children's Support Worker to join our team in Cambridgeshire; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Children's Support Worker

Location: Cambridgeshire/Norfolf Border - please note that this role is not based within Cambridge
Salary: £26,701.36 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Children’s Support Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

Please note that it is essential that you have a UK driving license and access to a car daily for this role.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9.00am on 8 May 2026

Interview date: 18 May 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Pro Bono Community is seeking a Training and Volunteer Coordinator to help us achieve greater access to justice.

Pro Bono Community is a registered charity that has developed specialised training programmes for students, trainees and lawyers covering the practical skills involved in delivering free legal advice and areas of social welfare law. In conjunction with the training, the charity arranges and manages volunteering placements at Law Centres and other advice agencies. The charity’s activities include a number of grant-funded projects which the coordinator will be heavily involved in.

We are looking for individuals to join our team who share our aims and mission and are driven to make them a reality.

About the role

Pro Bono Community is looking for a Training and Volunteer Coordinator to help us run programmes aimed at improving the amount and quality of access to justice by training law students and others and then placing them to work as volunteers at advice agencies.

The Training and Volunteer Coordinator will report to and work alongside the Director to undertake work supporting the charity’s activities with a focus on recruiting and training students and lawyers and then coordinating volunteering placements for them at Law Centres and advice agencies. The role also includes administrative work relating to a pioneering digital advice clinic the charity runs in conjunction with a Citizens Advice agency in London.

This is a full-time role with a salary of £31-35,000 depending on experience and the charity is seeking to appoint someone with knowledge of training and the legal/advice sectors and/or experience in a similar role. Occasional weekend work may be required. The role will involve working from home with some travel involved to London and elsewhere in support of the charity’s activities. The role includes annual leave of 25 days and a workplace pension scheme.

Responsibilities

Training and General Administration

· Producing and printing publicity and training materials

· Maintaining databases, content management systems, websites, social media and other tools

· Dealing with enquiries, including those made via the PBC mailbox and telephone line

· Organising the location and timetabling of training programmes

· Liaising with trainers and others to facilitate training

· Attending training programmes and assessments where necessary

· Keeping attendance records

· Monitoring development of the training content and facilitating discussions between stakeholders/authors

Volunteer coordination

· Arranging volunteer placements with advice agencies

· Designing and implementing rotas for volunteering

· Managing PBC’s online volunteer portal and volunteer activity logs

· Monitoring attendance and feedback

· Reacting to problems arising from attendance and other issues

· Dealing with volunteer enquiries

· Liaising with advice agencies on volunteers’ performance

· Dealing with enquiries from advice agencies

Monitoring and Evaluation

· Assisting advice agencies to evaluate volunteers’ impact through focus groups, surveys and other research tools

· Collating and analysing data

· Coordinating monitoring and evaluation reporting

· Designing and implementing monitoring and feedback tools

· Reviewing and revising monitoring and evaluation processes

Partnership management

· Working with the Director to:

o Develop and maintain productive relationships with Law Centres, advice agencies, universities, law firms and other stakeholders

o Identify and source partnership opportunities

o Explore new ways of working with partners 

Competencies

Essential

· Administrative experience in the legal, educational or voluntary sectors

· Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills

· Strong written and oral communication skills

· Attention to detail

· IT skills

· Ability to work well independently and as part of a team

· Very good internal and external stakeholder management skills

· Problem solving

· Ability to identify areas for improvement in processes and policies

· Ability to be flexible and assist with different aspects of the project as necessary

· Use of initiative

Desirable

· Legal background

· Knowledge of or experience in the free legal advice sector

· Knowledge of or experience in the training/HE sector

· Experience of working with volunteers

· Knowledge of digital training and communications tools

We are opening a new detox centre and are looking for Support Workers to provide safe, compassionate, and practical support to individuals undergoing detoxification in a structured, trauma-informed environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day support to clients during detox, ensuring safety, dignity, and wellbeing
• Recognise and respond to signs of withdrawal, deterioration, or crisis, escalating concerns appropriately in line with protocol
• Act as a keyworker for allocated clients, offering consistent support and engagement
• Carry out regular welfare checks and monitor clients’ physical and emotional presentation
• Support safeguarding practices and report concerns in line with policy
• Assist with drug and alcohol testing in line with training and procedures
• Support safe medication administration in line with policy and competency assessment, and report any side effects or concerns.
• Follow health & safety, infection control, and lone working procedures at all times.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary professionals (e.g. nurses, clinicians, therapists) to ensure safe and effective care.
• Liaise with community services and professionals (e.g. housing, probation, recovery services) to support move-on following detox
• Maintain accurate electronic records and contribute to handovers and team communication
• Support with practical tasks as required, including maintaining clean and safe communal environments

Essential criteria:

• Experience in a support, care, or people-focused role
• Strong verbal and communication skills
• Understanding of safeguarding and willingness to follow safeguarding procedures
• Ability to recognise risk and respond appropriately, including escalation of safeguarding or medical concerns.
• Ability to build professional and supportive relationships with vulnerable individuals
• Willingness to complete mandatory training (e.g. safeguarding, first aid, de-escalation, substance misuse).
• Basic computer literacy and confidence using electronic systems
• Calm, reliable, and compassionate approach, including in challenging situations
• Willingness and ability to work across different shift patterns, including some weekends, as required by the service

Desirable:

• Experience in mental health, substance use, recovery, or related services
• Understanding of trauma-informed approaches
• Experience of key-working or supporting individuals with complex needs
• Knowledge of detox or recovery pathways
• Experience liaising with community or statutory services
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team

We offer:

• Full training and ongoing development with scope for progression
• Supportive team environment
• Regular supervision and reflective practice
• Opportunity to be part of a new and developing detox service

This role requires working shifts, including evenings, weekends, and potentially nights.

Enhanced DBS required.

Residential Support Worker (1182)

Do you have the ambition to make a meaningful impact on the lives of autistic children and young people?

At St. John's, we've been making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people for nearly 140 years. We are now looking for incredible Residential Support Workers to help us continue making that difference!

As a Residential Support Worker, you will work under the supervision and guidance of the Care Management Team, Senior Residential Support Workers, and Therapy Teams. You will support learners in all residential houses and the community, assisting with social and academic activities.

Our aim is to ensure all learners have equal opportunities to develop their independence and social skills, preparing them for adult life.

What will you be doing?

• Supporting learners with self-care and independence skills such as eating, drinking, washing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinence, dressing, mobility, and medication administration.
   
• Ensuring learners' care files are kept up to date and accurate.
   
• At the start of each shift, reviewing communication and log books, and liaising with staff at handover to ensure learners' needs are well documented and addressed.
   
• Establish supportive relationships with learners and encourage the development of stable relationships.
   
• Promote the emotional health and self-esteem of learners and support them through changes in their living situation and personal circumstances.

• Accompanying learners into the community to take part in social and recreational activities such as bowling, cinema trips, and dining out, helping them build confidence and enjoy meaningful experiences beyond the college setting. 
   

We are recruiting 38week/52week positions for our Ashington Gardens, Telscombe Road, College View, and Pier View homes. Residential Support Workers will primarily be based at one location but may be required to work flexibly across all homes as operational needs require.

We are also accepting applications for our bank staff team, offering flexible, ad hoc shifts to cover staffing needs as required. If you are interested in joining the bank, please state this clearly in the supporting information section of your application.

In return, we offer a fantastic working environment, generous holidays, career development opportunities, and more!

Please note that sponsorship for this role is not available at this time.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Documents

• Residential Support Worker - St.Johns - Day.pdf (0.86 MB)

This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic and ambitious new charity as we make a step-change to grow our work significantly over the next 3-5 years. We are not just looking for a typical Fundraiser. At such a crucial moment in our charity’s growth, every staff member has such a significant impact on our work and the potential to make a fundamental difference to our future. We are looking for a highly innovative, adaptable and dynamic individual who is excited by the idea of joining a small, dedicated team all focused on building a new and emerging charity to the next stage.

We are looking for the right core skills, but alongside that, we’re looking for an enthusiast, a driver, a creative, someone who can think outside the box. We welcome applicants at all levels of experience but most importantly, we’re looking for a storyteller, a natural relationship builder, someone who is able to captivate new potential supporters. From carefully crafting grant applications to building long-term, bespoke funding relationships sustained through connection, the role requires attention to detail, foresight, and a natural ability to take initiative. Working for a small charity requires tenacity, resourcefulness and grit, so whether you’re an experienced fundraiser looking for a new challenge or have never worked in Fundraising before but believe you can bring these skills, we’d love to hear from you.

We are a unique charity who are proud to do things differently. Whilst we are highly professional and ambitious, we are also very relational in everything we do, whether that be the way we talk to funders, our culture within the office or the way we look after each other. Life moves fast at Basecamp, and as we are looking to both sustain our current Trusts and Foundations operation and develop a new Corporate income stream, it is likely your skills will to an extent steer the specifics of the role. This is a rare opportunity to get in at the ground level of an ambitious new charity with the potential for significant role development as the charity evolves.

What is Basecamp?

At Basecamp Adventure Trust, we empower vulnerable young people from West Yorkshire to thrive through unique, long-term programmes which harness outdoor adventure as a powerful vehicle for personal transformation. Through a combination of skills workshops, exhilarating adventure trips and a deeply relational approach, we challenge, celebrate and inspire young people to discover a newfound sense of confidence, resilience and self-belief, and to explore new possibilities for themselves. Our programmes are intensive, sustained and individualised to make a lasting positive difference on the young people we work with so they can lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

The Role

Trusts and Foundations

Prospect Research and Future Planning

• Proactively carry out detailed and organised research to identify fundraising opportunities across Trust and Foundations.
• Maintain and build a forward-looking pipeline of prospective funding opportunities, ensuring applications are prioritised appropriately based on size, alignment and/or application deadline.
• Support us to develop our Trusts and Foundations Strategy including target income, relationship management and best practice.

Writing Proposals

• Crafting well-written, well-presented and compelling funding applications, taking the time to understand each funder and individually tailor our approach to their criteria.
• Match new and existing applications with specific elements of our work to increase chances of success.
• Help to develop a compelling Case for Support, ensuring we are accurately conveying the impact of our work and maintaining consistency across our applications whilst allowing for nuance.

Building Relationships

• An innate understanding that winning a grant is just the first step of the relationship.
• Ensure all funding relationships are acknowledged and appreciated with priority and genuine care.
• Nurture funding relationships with a person-centred approach rooted in connection, which uses a variety of communication tools (emails, reports, visits) tailored to the funder.
• An understanding of the nuances between different funders and how this informs how we manage and deepen the relationship with the aim to secure future funding.
• Producing monitoring and reporting documents, both bespoke to individual funders and universal for the fundraising operation as a whole.

Database Management

• Maintain our existing management tools for tracking, reporting and stewarding income.
• Helping us implement a bespoke CRM system as our fundraising streams grow in both scale and complexity.

Other

• Our adventure residentials are the core of what we do, and we believe it’s hard to understand the unique power of our work with young people and convey this to others until you experience it yourself. You’ll join us for two residentials (at least!) per year, working alongside our cohorts of young people to immerse yourself in the work which sits at the heart of the organisation. You do not need any special skills as full training will be provided but you do need to be “up for the challenge”. We do lots of adventurous activities in all weathers so being something of an outdoorsy person would be a definite advantage!

Corporate Fundraising

We are looking to develop a Corporate income stream, led by our Senior Leadership team, by building bespoke and unique relationships with companies based in Yorkshire. If you have skills and experience in this area, you may support us to develop this new strand of our work. This new and exciting venture is currently in the preliminary development stages, however roles and responsibilities may look something like:

• Continually undertaking prospect research to identify corporate partners who we can build long-lasting, meaningful relationships with.
• Contacting prospective corporate partners and coordinating meetings with new and existing corporate partners.
• Supporting us to develop our pitch and offering to prospective corporate partners, creating bespoke partnerships which demonstrate our ethos, culture and impact.  
• Support us to develop new ways corporate partners can be involved in our work for mutual benefit.
• Support the development of our stewardship and account management process, including new and innovative ways to develop relationships and monitor impact.
• Work with operational colleagues to plan, coordinate and deliver corporate events.
• Attend networking events to build new relationships with a view of securing new partnerships.

Skills and Experience

• Prior fundraising experience (Trusts and Foundations and/or Corporate partnerships)
• Highly skilled storyteller able to craft emotive, persuasive and compelling narratives that connect with organisations so they feel inspired to support our vision and mission.
• A natural relationship builder, able to build personal and bespoke relationships with funding organisations using a person-centred approach.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills which conveys ideas and impact to a range of audiences in a clear and confident way.
• Attention-to-detail with sharp focus on small details with understanding as to how they inform the bigger picture.
• A self-starter, able to be self-sufficient, manage time and priorities effectively and take initiative when opportunities arise.
• Foresight into how actions today can shape our fundraising income into 1, 3 and 5 years time.
• Enthusiasm and passion about working for a small charity with drive to help us develop and grow.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Canva.
• Willingness to work variable hours when required (including residential trips away with overnight stays), able to travel and work from home. 

Above all, you will be driven by a real passion for helping young people to thrive. You will be motivated by a core belief that all young people are far more capable than they think and that they all deserve a chance to be hopeful for the future.

Job Title: Multiple Disadvantaged Worker

Location: Derby City
Salary: £26,701.36 per annum
Contract type: Permanent, Full Time

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Multiple Disadvantaged Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and their children living in Derby City.

The Multiple Disadvantaged outreach Worker will provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse, with additional complex support needs, in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles. The post holder will inform the survivor on the options and support available, empowering the survivor to make decisions and achieve their goals to increase their safety, confidence and independence. The role involves working with a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies to advocate on behalf of survivors and promote access to services to meet their needs. The Multiple Disadvantaged Outreach worker will work within Derby City.

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 5 May 2026

Interview Date: 20 and 21 May 2026

About Spear York

In York, Spear is partnering with York Vineyard Church, which is part of the Vineyard network of churches.

The mission of York Vineyard church is to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, build up the faith of Christian believers, share in the training of workers, promote Christian education, advance the Kingdom of God and bring relief to the poor, the needy, the sick and elderly.

“Since hearing about the Spear Programme we have seen how well the coaching focusses on mindset, as well as skills, with the aim to support young people to thrive in the workplace, looking beyond just an initial job offer”.

Spear is a dynamic, growing youth employment charity that coaches young people to overcome barriers and thrive in work and life. We do this through the Spear Programme. 

Key Information:

• Salary: £24,000 FTE
• Part-time, Permanent - Tuesday to Thursday
• 28 days annual leave pro rata, including bank holidays
• Closing date: Wednesday 6th May (we interview on a rolling basis and may close the role early if we find the right candidate)
• Assessment day: Wednesday 13th May

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, able to personally represent the values of Spear and York Vineyard Church, and a commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader.
• A confidence in group facilitation, and a desire to learn and understand coaching techniques.
• Passion for social justice and for working as part of the church to transform communities, especially supporting young people in employment or education.
• An ambitious and self-motivated individual with the ability to exercise initiative, prioritise workload and work well under pressure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• High emotional intelligence, and a sense of humour and fun!

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Derby

Salary: £26,701.36 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours 

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker. The post holder will provide high quality support and safety planning to women and children in crisis. This includes enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits and legal advice.  A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 5 May 2026

Iterview Dates: 14 and 15 May 2026

Position: Community Voice Officer

Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Hours: 25 hours to be taken between Mon – Fri, one day working from home, other days expected to be in the community or office

Salary: £30,000 pro rata; 5% pension contribution, 33 days of annual leave entitlement (inclusive of bank holidays) pro rata

 Reportable to: Healthwatch Manager

Direct reports: None

Job Purpose

Healthwatch Barnsley (hosted by Barnsley CVS), is going through an exciting redesign to enable community voices to have even greater impact on the current strategies and developments in Barnsley.  The Community Engagement Officer role is an impactful and rewarding opportunity to join the Healthwatch Barnsley Team as we navigate upcoming changes introduced through the new NHS 10 Year Plan and the forthcoming Health Bill.  This role will ensure that the voices of Barnsley residents remain central as we work towards building a health and social care system that is fit for the future.

You will use your excellent interpersonal skills and creativity to gather feedback on Barnsley priorities, ensuring residents’ views shape local projects and developments contributing to Barnsley’s vision as the “Place of Possibilities”.

Working with Barnsley CVS and other established third-sector organisations you will identify new ways to reach under-represented or seldom-heard communities and strengthen how their voices inform local decision-making. You will collaborate with the wider Healthwatch team to support a strong, credible and independent voice within Barnsley’s strategic boards, helping to create a genuinely “Listening Borough”.

By capturing residents’ experiences and feeding them back to services you will contribute to a continuous feedback loop that empowers communities, builds trust and encourages ongoing participation in future engagement activities.

Key focus areas you could be working on include topics such as system-wide shifts

· Hospital to Community

· Analogue to Digital

· Sickness to Prevention

· Health on the high street

· The Barnsley 2040 vision

As part of the redesign, you will work as a team to design new ways to create dynamic feedback loops to the public using tools such as magazine creation, blogs or vlogs, podcasts, social media.  Your work will ensure that the communities in Barnsley know that their voice can have a genuine impact on the shaping of their town.

Employee benefits

- 33 days of annual leave (including bank holiday) which increases with longevity

- all staff given time off between Christmas and New Year without it impacting your leave entitlement

- enhanced sick pay during probation and increased entitlement with longevity

- 5% pension contribution

- discounts at local gym

- Enhanced maternity pay

We’re looking for an organised, proactive and community-minded Project Officer to join our small and supportive team. This is a genuinely varied role, spanning project delivery and network development as well as operational support for our growing OxFarmToFork food hub. It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working across different kinds of tasks and wants to contribute to real change in the Oxfordshire food system. 

The role is 0.8 FTE and can be worked flexibly across the week. Full-time is available if preferred. We encourage interested candidates to discuss working arrangements that suit their needs. The successful candidate will ideally be based within Oxfordshire and able to work from our Oxford office on a Wednesday, our team day.

What You’ll Be Doing 

Project Support (approx. 1.5 days/week) 

Working closely with the Project and Comms Leads, you’ll support the delivery of GFO’s local projects and public-facing campaigns. This includes contributing to initiatives such as the Great Big Green Lunch, and the WISH initiative with our partners at Cherwell Collective, a groundbreaking project that empowers the community to build more sustainable daily habits, including reducing food waste. You’ll help coordinate activity, track progress, and make sure things run smoothly from planning through to delivery. 

Organisational Development (approx. 1.5 days/week) 

You’ll steward GFO’s member network, nurturing robust community and connections. This means attending events, visiting network members and community food groups, and making sure GFO remains well-connected and able to support the people and organisations it works with. 

You’ll also work with the CEO on opportunity horizon scanning: helping to identify income prospects, partnerships, and strategic developments relevant to GFO’s mission, and keeping track of these in a structured and accessible way. 

OxFarmToFork Operations (approx. 1 day/week) 

GFO hosts OxFarmToFork, an exciting local food project and the UK’s first regenerative B2B online marketplace, connecting agroecological growers with buyers in local institutions such as Oxford University colleges. You’ll provide the weekly operational backbone that keeps it running: managing the online marketplace platform (Tream), coordinating with producers and buyers around weekly market cycles and deliveries and supporting the onboarding of new producers and buyers. It’s hands-on work that sits at the heart of a genuinely innovative local food project. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Experience of project coordination or support, in any sector – non-profit, community, food, or otherwise. 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to juggle a range of tasks. 

• Confidence engaging with a wide variety of people, from community food groups to institutional procurement teams. 

• A methodical approach to admin and data – comfortable with spreadsheets, invoicing processes, and keeping accurate records. 

• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to share updates clearly and promptly. 

• A proactive mindset: you spot what needs doing and get on with it. 

• Genuine interest in food sustainability, community development, or the local food economy. 

We’re a small team and we value warmth, reliability, and a willingness to muck in. If you don’t tick every box above but feel the role is a good fit for your skills and experience, we’d still love to hear from you – particularly from candidates with a range of lived experiences. 

We are recruiting for a Housing IGVA to join our team in Barking & Dagenham; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Housing IGVA

Location: Barking & Dagenham
Salary: £29,701.36 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We are seeking a committed and compassionate Housing Independent Gender Violence Advocate (IGVA) to join our service in Barking and Dagenham, supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse. This is a vital role that works in close partnership with the Housing Department, with the post‑holder co‑located three days per week in person to strengthen joint working and improve outcomes for survivors.

The Housing IGVA will provide specialist support and advocacy, working alongside housing colleagues to ensure survivors’ safety, needs, and experiences are fully understood and responded to. The role involves advocating on behalf of clients, conducting risk assessments, developing safety plans, and making appropriate referrals to internal and external support services. The post‑holder will also provide professional guidance and insight to housing staff to enhance trauma‑informed practice.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong communication and partnership‑working skills, the ability to maintain professional boundaries, and a clear commitment to empowering women on their recovery journey. Relevant lived experience and/or professional experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse will be highly valued, alongside empathy, resilience, and a solutions‑focused approach.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference at a critical point in survivors’ lives, while also developing specialist knowledge of housing systems and safeguarding practice.

Closing date: 9.00am on 13 May 2026

Interview date: 27 May 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack

About Us 

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid have for over 45 years supported women and children with services around domestic violence and abuse. Could you be a part of our team as we continue our mission to end domestic violence and abuse? 

The region’s leading charity in tackling violence against women and girls, BSWA offers a helpline, webchat, drop in and and community support as well as emergency accommodation in six refuges across the area.

Projects supports women in the criminal justice system, in healthcare settings, and throughout the community, offering support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Alongside this, we also have staff offering training and consultancy to businesses and health and social care professionals alike, raising awareness on gender based violence issues.

We seek like-minded women to join our enthusiastic team of workers, all of us passionate about the vital and valuable work we do to support women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, and tackling the wider issues of violence against women and girls. 

Key Responsibilities -

To provide specialist expertise on DVA within the Public Protection Unit (PPU) and the local policing unit (LPU) across Coventry and Solihull police stations, covering Solihull Borough. This role will support the improvement of police practice by providing tailored guidance, advice, and professional support to officers and staff, strengthening their understanding of safe, trauma informed and appropriate interventions with women and children affected by DVA.

To provide information, support and signposting for women accessing WMP disclosing experiences of domestic violence/abuse.

Experience Required -

Influencing professional practice, including delivering training and awareness sessions 

Carrying out needs and risk assessments and support of women experiencing abuse 

Working within safeguarding guidelines to protect and promote the well-being of children and young people

Monitoring and evaluating projects

Benefits

• 31 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays) 

• Up to 6% matched pension contribution 

• Free access to Employee Assistance Programme 

• Life Assurance scheme while in employment (a lump sum of 4 times salary) 

• Cycle to Work scheme 

• Health Cash Plan scheme available to all employees from day one 

• Successful candidates may have the opportunity to work under hybrid working arrangements, subject to the role and to the terms of our Hybrid Working Policy 

BSWA is a Disability Confident Employer. We want everyone to have equal chance at being considered for our jobs. Should you be unable to submit your application online and would prefer an alternative method, or you are experiencing another barrier to completing your application, please contact us via our website.

These posts are covered by a Genuine Occupational Requirement (Schedule 9; Equality Act 2010) and women only need apply.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is at 12 noon on Wednesday 6th May. Interviews will take place weeks commencing 18th May.

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed.

After visiting Smart Works, 68% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.

The Smart Works service is delivered in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading, Bristol and Leeds. Over the past ten years, Smart Works has helped over 50,000 women, and last year alone we reached 10,600 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre.

In 2025 we launched our new 5-year strategy- we are aiming to build a future where every woman, at any stage of her career, can access trusted, personalised support to secure employment. We aspire to be local in feel, national in reach, shaped by the voices of women, valuing every story and every success.

More information about who we are can be found on our Smart Works website.

About the Role

We are looking for a proactive, compassionate, organised and collaborative individual who has a passion for supporting and empowering women in their employment journeys.  

The South London Service Delivery Executive will play a key role in both the South London Centre and the wider Service Delivery Team across London. They will support with the smooth running of our service, create a welcoming atmosphere for all clients, volunteers and visitors and ensure that there is strong consistency and quality across every aspect of the service we deliver. 

The Service Delivery Executive will often be the first point of contact a client will have with Smart Works, providing administrative, phone and booking support for clients across London and beyond. The role requires strong administrative skills, excellent communication skills and a drive to ensure all women who visit us have the best possible experience.

How to Apply

Please head to our website to read the full job pack and then sumbit your CV and Cover Letter through our recruitment system. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments or alterations for the application and recruitment processes, please get in touch and we'd be happy to support. 

Smart Works is committed to best practice employment practices, including reducing the burden for those seeking work. Smart Works will therefore reimburse reasonable costs of travel to interviews if required.